Former South Korean President Yoon’s Wife Kim Accused of Corruption and Bribery

Kokcha News Agency – In South Korea, Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been indicted on charges of corruption and bribery. According to Yonhap News, Kim is under investigation for allegedly violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and the law on bribery for mediation.

The charges against Kim include providing favors to church officials and participating in a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea, between 2009 and 2012.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has also been indicted for allegedly aiding the leader of a rebellion, committing perjury, and tampering with and destroying official documents. These charges are linked to last December’s attempted martial law declaration by former President Yoon.

The South Korean National Assembly had previously approved special investigation bills on June 5 regarding Yoon’s declaration of martial law and the corruption allegations against his wife, Kim.

Martial Law and Impeachment Process:
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, citing “anti-state activities by the opposition.” Soldiers tasked with enforcing martial law entered the National Assembly, but Yoon was forced to backtrack after the Assembly overturned the decision and the Cabinet approved its removal.

On December 14, 2024, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, temporarily suspending him from office pending a decision by the Constitutional Court. On April 4, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment, ruling that Yoon should be removed from office for declaring martial law.

Following Yoon’s impeachment, Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), won the subsequent election and was sworn in on June 4, officially taking office as the new president.